ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN
Design process and phases
WELCOME TO THE HEART OF ARCHITECTURE
In this chapter, you will learn about the
design process and how architects ideally
approach their projects.
Personally, I found that design PRIMARILY
focuses on the USERS (kung sino gagamit ng
gagawin niyo). So it is important to develop an
attitude or mantra centered on “EMPATHY.”
Ask yourselves this from time to time: “If I were
to use this space, will I be comfortable and
happy?”
DESIGN
Generally speaking, it is the process of
envisioning and planning the creation of objects,
interactive systems, buildings, vehicles, etc. It is
user-centered, i.e. users are at the heart of the
design thinking approach.
It is about creating solutions for people,
physical items or more abstract systems to
address a need or a problem.
But architecture puts in the art in things! So try
not ending up like these mice.
DESIGN: Is it ‘Art’ or ‘Science’?
Art is about creating something that expresses the
author’s vision, ideas and feelings.
While designers can express feelings and leave
impressions through their work, doing so is not their
prime objective.
So it takes the creating aspect of art, as it is about
crafting an item, a tool, an experience even.
On the other hand, it takes the problem-solving aspect of
science.
It exists primarily to address a particular need.
To quote Steve Jobs: “Design is not just what it looks
like and feels like. Design is how it works.”
CONCEPT
An idea malleable enough to be modified and
In a nutshell, an “IDEA”
transformed even if it’s bullet-proof!
“
Design is at the service of the people.
CONCEPT
A party analogy
Imagine we are all having a party and have decided the
party for special reasons would be a “White party.”
“Does the white party idea paint any picture in your minds? If
you are to organize a white party, how will you go about it?”
Common suggestions:
“Everyone will wear white or a touch of white”
“We will have the party in a room or building painted white”
“Since white is a light colour, we will only play light music”
ARCHITECTURAL CONCEPT
A party analogy
“
White Party = “Concept”
Common suggestions = “Concept Development”
What is most important is
TYPES OF ARCH’L CONCEPTS
that your design is tied to an
1. Organizational idea and tells a story… most
preferably a good story.
2. Material-based
3. Functional
4. Structural
5. Form-based
ARCHITECTURAL CONCEPT
SOURCES OF CONCEPT
● Client (brief) | For example if he insists all his rooms should be cross ventilated and
en-suite… that could be your concept.
● Site | An example is when the site is surrounded by beautiful scenery and you decide you
want your design to take advantage of the view.
● Identified problem | For instance a windy site and you decide you want your building to
aerodynamically flow with the winds rather than resist it.
● Predicted users of your building | For example when designing an old people’s residence you
decide that this building should foster a sense of home and family. Maybe when designing a
hospital you decide that this building should promote a sense of healing in the patients.
● Form | For instance when design you decide that this building should promote a sense of awe
etc.
ARCHITECTURAL CONCEPT
Material-based
“
What is most important is that your design
is tied to an idea and tells a story… most
preferably a good story.
Form-based
Structure-based
“Form Follows Function”
Clockwise from bottom left. Sydney Opera House must be “A grand
landmark”; design maximizes use of material; design based on tree stump;
a bridge in South America given bridges’ engineering constraints.
THE DESIGN PROCESS
Problems are best solved when approached in a
comprehensive and systematic way.
The goal of this process is to guide you and
organize your work to turn ideas into concrete
solutions.
Designers do research and collect information
about the problem they are considering: Who is
person facing this problem? Why? How are other
people trying to solve it?
Thing is: Design isn’t really a step-by-step
process. It’s more of a trial-and-error thing.
THE DESIGN PROCESS
Remember that design is a
trial-and-error thing.
This is the case because there are
a lot of things you need to
consider when designing.
STEP 1 | Define the Problem
You can’t find a solution until you have a
clear idea of what the problem is.
THE DESIGN PROCESS
STEP 2 | Collect Information
Collect sketches, take photographs and
gather data to start giving you inspiration.
STEP 3 | Brainstorm and
Analyze Ideas
Begin to sketch, make, and study so you can
start to understand how all the data and
information you’ve collected may impact
your design.
THE DESIGN PROCESS
STEP 4 | Develop Solutions
Take your preliminary ideas and form
multiple small-scale design solutions.
STEP 5 | Gather Feedback
Present your ideas to as many people as
possible: friends, teachers, professionals,
and any others you trust to give insightful
comments.
Walt Disney Concert Hall by Archt. Frank Gehry
THE DESIGN PROCESS
STEP 6 | Improve
Reflect on all of your feedback and decide if
or to what extent it should be incorporated.
It is often helpful to take solutions back
through the Design Process to refine and
clarify them.
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN STAGES
PROGRAMMING PHASE
Programming is the activity of determining the
“program”, or set of needs that a building needs
to fulfill. It is the thorough and systematic
evaluation of the interrelated values, goals, facts,
and needs of a client’s family and the
surrounding community. A well-conceived
program leads to high-quality design.
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN PHASES (Technical)
SCHEMATIC DESIGN PHASE
The focus in the architectural design process shifts
from what the problems are to how to solve those
problems. During schematic design, the focus is on
the “scheme”, or overall high-level design. Here,
minor details should be ignored to instead focus on
creating a coherent solution that encompass the
project as a whole.
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN PHASES (Technical)
DESIGN DEVELOPMENT PHASE
During the design development phase of the
architectural design process, the scheme is refined
into the final design. In previous phases, the focus
has been on the project as a whole. During Design
Development, in becomes important to give
individual attention to each aspect, each space and
each detail of the project.
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN PHASES (Technical)
CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENT PHASE
At this stage of the architectural design process, the
focus shifts from design to communicating the
design and providing all information necessary for
construction.
THE HEART OF ARCHITECTURE
To recap, this module tackled the following topics:
- The significance of design and the architectural design process
- Definition of design and concept
- Significance of the architectural concept
- Sources of concepts
- Design Process
- Architectural design stages
THE HEART OF ARCHITECTURE
Coupled with the first module, this should give you a better idea about the
processes and factors that govern design.
Remember that design, in this sense, is not limited to architecture only. Design
is the product of a creative process that is also employed in fashion, landscape
design, industrial design (ergonomics), and other arts.
An important attitude you need to develop this time should be lateral
thinking. It is when you see connections among seemingly different or
unrelated ideas, objects, or subjects.
